Flapper sets up win
Return of international star boosts Ocean Grove
MATT Flapper has made an instant impact in his first game back from international duties to help get Ocean Grove over the line against Webbcona.
Flapper, who returned to the side after representing Australia at the Merdeka International in Malaysia, had a commanding 19-shot rink win.
The skip, with Rod Swan, Terry Brady and Anthony Donahue at third, was too powerful for a young Webbcona rink skipped by Ben McArthur.
The game was played in testing conditions with cold temperatures and showers causing interruptions to play. VICTORIA looks like it might be back to the form that won it the premiership in 2008-09 after destroying Highton by 56 shots.
The Ballarat side took a clean sweep of the points over Highton, which is just back in the division after a one-year stint in Division 1.
The Victoria players were better able to handle the very slow conditions of a green soaked by more than 20mm of rain in the week leading into the game.
It was the Victoria rink of Andrew Panther, Max Capuano, Jess Thomas and skip Wes Lenecke that claimed the biggest victory in the division this week.
They made a fine start and led by 24 early on, negotiating the tricky slow green against Highton’s Adam Lee.
They continued to play well, but the Highton side was able to get a few shots back in the session after the tea break. GEELONG West had a trip to Bacchus Marsh for its game against Avenue.
The home side was able to hold out for one rink and a tie, but a good win by Stewart Shuttle gave West the 10 points. A DESPERATE Central Wendouree side was hosting Bareena and no doubt the home team was hoping the green advantage would help it grab its first points of the season.
However, a big game from Ben Wilding’s rink over Greg Brown guided the visitors to an 18-shot victory. LARA was again involved in another oneshot game after its final end win over Highton last week.
This time the visitor, Sebastopol, was able to hold out and claim a nail-biting victory.
Looking at the league, the rink margins, like last week, were relatively moderate, with only one 20-plus result and another just below.
Of the 20 rinks, 13 had margins of less than 10 shots.
Predictions The top two sides on the ladder, Geelong West and Ocean Grove, are set to clash at West.
A good game is assured as West is generally very competitive at home, and Ocean Grove should be at full strength to give the spectators something to savour.
Highton hosts Central Wendouree, with both sides desperate for a win. Bareena will be at home to Avenue. Expect the home side to take the honours.
Victoria has a second game in a row at home and should beat Lara.